(a) The Regional Supervisor may require performance testing of any spill-response equipment listed in your OSRP to verify its capabilities if the equipment:

(1) Has been modified;

(2) Has been damaged and repaired; or

(3) Has a claimed effective daily recovery capacity that is inconsistent with data otherwise available to BSEE.

(b)You must conduct any required performance testing of booms in accordance with BSEE-approved test criteria. You may use the document “Test Protocol for the Evaluation of Oil-Spill Containment Booms,” available from BSEE, for guidance. Performance testing of skimmers also must be conducted in accordance with BSEE approved test criteria. You may use the document “Suggested Test Protocol for the Evaluation of OilSpill Skimmers for the OCS,” available from BSEE, for guidance.

(c)You are responsible for any required testing of equipment performance and for the accuracy of the information submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Final rule.

This rule becomes effective on September 13, 2016. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of September 13, 2016.

30 CFR Parts 250, 254, and 550

Summary

The Department of the Interior (DOI or the Department), acting through BOEM and BSEE, is revising and adding new requirements to regulations for exploratory drilling and related operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) seaward of the State of Alaska. This final rule focuses solely on the OCS within the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas (Arctic OCS). The Arctic region is characterized by extreme environmental conditions, geographic remoteness, and a relative lack of fixed infrastructure and existing operations. This final rule is designed to help ensure the safe, effective, and responsible exploration of Arctic OCS oil and gas resources, while protecting the marine, coastal, and human environments, and Alaska Natives' cultural traditions and access to subsistence resources.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Final rule.

This rule becomes effective on July 28, 2016.

30 CFR Parts 203, 250, 251, 252, 254, 256, 280, 282, 290, and 291

Summary

This rule makes minor edits, changes, and updates to BSEE regulations. These changes include, but are not limited to: correcting all current Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control numbers from “1010” to “1014”; adding two new control numbers to regulations as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA); changing the BSEE address from “Herndon, VA” to “Sterling, VA”; changing “shall” to “will” or “must” and changing “which” to “that”; and revising other language where necessary for improved clarity.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Extension of comment period for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

The comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on February 24, 2015, (80 FR 9916) has been extended. Written comments must be received by the extended due date of May 27, 2015. BOEM and BSEE may not fully consider comments received after this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rulemaking by any of the following methods. Please use the Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1082-AA00 as an identifier in your message. For comments specifically related to the draft Environmental Assessment conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), please refer to NEPA in the heading of your message. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the entry entitled “Enter Keyword or ID”, enter BSEE-2013-0011 then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this rulemaking. BOEM and BSEE may post all submitted comments in their entirety. • Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior (DOI); Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Attention: Regulations and Standards Branch; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166. Please reference “Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf—Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf, 1082-AA00” in your comments and include your name and return address. Please note that this address for BSEE is new; however, any comments already submitted to BSEE's former address (381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20181) do not need to be resubmitted to the new address. • Public Availability of Comments—Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

30 CFR Parts 250 and 254

Summary

BOEM and BSEE are extending the public comment period on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled, “Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf—Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf,” which was published in the Federal Register on February 24, 2015, (80 FR 9916). The original public comment period would have ended on April 27, 2015. However, BOEM and BSEE have received public comments requesting an extension of the comment period. BOEM and BSEE have reviewed the extension requests and determined that a 30-day comment period extension to May 27, 2015, is appropriate.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Proposed rule.

Submit comments by April 27, 2015. BOEM and BSEE may not fully consider comments received after this date. You may submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the information collection burden in this proposed rule by March 26, 2015. The deadline for comments on the information collection burden does not affect the deadline for the public to comment to BOEM and BSEE on the proposed regulations.

30 CFR Parts 250 and 254

Summary

The Department of the Interior (DOI), acting through BOEM and BSEE, proposes to revise and add new requirements to regulations for exploratory drilling and related operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) seaward of the State of Alaska (Alaska OCS). The Alaska OCS has the potential to be an integral part of the Nation's “all of the above” domestic energy strategy. This proposed rule focuses solely on the OCS within the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas (Arctic OCS). The Arctic region is characterized by extreme environmental conditions, geographic remoteness, and a relative lack of fixed infrastructure and existing operations. The proposed rule is designed to ensure safe, effective, and responsible exploration of Arctic OCS oil and gas resources, while protecting the marine, coastal, and human environments, and Alaska Natives' cultural traditions and access to subsistence resources.